The Potency of Bifidobacterium spp. as an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters on Feed Conversion Ratio, Feed Efficiency, and Nutrient Intake in Laying Hens

Abstract

This article describes a new idea about using Bifidobacteriumsp isolates as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters, based on the ability of Bifidobacteriumsp isolates, which have the potential as a probiotic in laying hens. This study aims to prove that Bifobacteriumsp could improve production performance, including feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency, and nutrient intake (feed intake, crude protein intake, crude fiber intake, lipid intake, and organic matter). A total of 150 laying hens at 25 weeks of age were divided into three groups (P0: control, P1: 0.1% antibiotic growth promoters, P1: 0.05% Bifidobacterium spp. probiotic) and fed on a basal diet containing 2750 kcal/kg metabolizable energy and 18% crude protein for four weeks. The different supplementation to the basal diets showed significant differences (p<0.05) on feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency, feed intake, crude protein intake, crude fiber intake, lipid intake, and organic matter intake among the treatments. However, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, crude protein intake, crude fiber intake, lipid intake, and organic matter intake were lowest in the group fed with 0.5% of Bifidobacterium spp. The highest feed efficiency was obtained from the groups fed with 0.5% of Bifidobacterium spp, compared with the control and supplemented antibiotics growth promoters group. 0.5% of Bifidobacterium spp. supplementation to the diet of laying hens is beneficial for increasing feed efficiency and improving feed conversion ratio. The practical and theoretical significance of the results is that Bifidobacterium spp. can be used to improve production performance in laying hens.